U.S. Veteran Delwayne C. Appreciates A Furnished Home All His Own

Originally from St. Paul, Delwayne served 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including four years in active duty in Hawaii and Japan and the following years in the law enforcement battalion in the Twin Cities. He is also an advocate for veterans and a life-long learner, studying toward his associate degree in cybersecurity and defense.

After leaving the military, DelWayne worked with a social worker at Hennepin County to secure housing in the Twin Cities, and, connecting with MAC-V, he got a referral to Bridging to furnish his home.

“I would call myself a minimalist. I’ve never had the desire or fortitude to buy furniture,” he says. “Going through Bridging, I decided I wanted to change and furnish the apartment the way that I wanted to.”

Delwayne felt welcomed and put at ease by the volunteers who guided his shopping experience at Bridging.

“The front desk personnel were very helpful and kind. The process for picking out furniture was pretty remarkable. The volunteers took the chance, in a short time, to get to know you. They helped me find what I needed. They seemed to understand that your surroundings, the furniture, the feeling, really matters to your health, especially for a veteran.”

Following his visit to Bridging, Delwayne greatly appreciated the next-day delivery of his furniture by the Bridging warehouse and delivery team, so he could start enjoying his furnished home right away.

“Now my place feels more homey. I feel how important it is to set up a home with bookshelves, pictures on the walls, lamps, and many places to sit. It’s actually a place I can call home, especially knowing how I furnished it and I picked it out, that it’s my own.”

With a home that is comfortably furnished, Delwayne feels a sense of stability and hope in his next life chapter. Building upon his natural talent in math, he is pursuing his cyberspace and security degree that will help him secure a well-paying job in his field.

DelWayne is also committed to helping other veterans. He recently completed training through Veterans Affairs, and combined with professional development classes, he earned his certification as peer recovery specialist.

“I will be able to assist in the recovery of other veterans by sharing my story. When I went through recovery, I wish I could have had someone. I hope that by sharing my story, other Veterans will feel comfortable opening up. I want to help advocate for homeless Veterans, since I was homeless for awhile.”

Delwayne has experience firsthand how a furnished home with furniture and household goods selected according to each person’s unique preferences is vital in creating an environment where healing, stability, and empowerment can occur.

“A furnished home creates a better environment and a better quality of life,” he says. “It’s actually a place I can call home now, a safe space. I feel a sense of security and comfort.”

Thank you, Delwayne, for your service. Thank you for generously sharing your Bridging story!